Hen&#39;s nest.



PATBNTED OCT. 2, 1906.

W. D. SURFACE. HBNS NEST.

ARPLIOATION FILED APR. 16, 1906..

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WALTER D. SURFACE, OF VILLISCA, IOWA.

HENS NEST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2,1906.

Application filed April 16, 1906. Serial No. 311,866-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER D. SURFACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Villisca, in the county of Montgomery and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hens Nests; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has reference to that class of hens or other poultry in which the nest or box is suspended by a hinged connection and through an intermediate means connects with a suitable door, whereby the weight of the hen when on the nest will retain the door in a closed position and when leaving the nest the weight is removed therefrom, allowing the door to be opened for the hen to pass out.

The object of the invention is to provide a perfectly working device of the above character and in which the nest is easily separated from its connections and removed for cleaning and the several parts simple in construction and less liable to get out of order.

The invention consists in a hens nest constructed substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed. Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation of the nest, partly in section,- Fig. 2, a plan view,,partly in section, with the top removed; Fig. 3, a detail perspective view of a portion of the nest proper, showing the connection thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a suitable frame, which may contain any suitable number of nests or boxes B of any preferred construction, said frame having a suitable partition a with wire-netting b to allow a proper circulation of air between the two horizontal rows of nests. The frame is .provided with standards 0, connected to the sides of the frame by braces D, which braces are pivoted to the standards and to the frame, so that said standards may fold up against the same when not required for use as roosts or for other purposes, each pair of standards being oined by longitudinal cleats E.

The doors F may be of any desirable construction and suitably pivoted at their lower ends to the frame A, and removable doors G I are held closed upon opposite sides of the frame by buttons (Z or like fastenings, so that access may be had to the interior of the frame.

In Fig. 1 is shown the upper door in dotted lines as lowered to a horizontal position and the lower one of the doors shown in a similar position in full lines, the edges of the doors when in such lowered position resting on the cleats E to support the same, thus providing platforms for the hen to pass out of the nest.

The nests proper or boxes, B, are suspended within the frame A by cords or like flexible connections e, one end thereof engaging a hook f upon the under side of the nest or box and extending up over a convex bearing g upon the lower end of the pivoted door F and its end engaging a hook h thereon. The convex bearing serves as a fulcrum for the flexible connection, and the convex surface thereof prevents wear upon the flexible connection. The opposite side of the nest or box B is provided with a hook 'L, which engages a staple upon the inner side of the frame A, whereby said nest or box is suspendedat its front and rear sides, and by disengaging said hook and disengaging the flexible connection from the hook upon the under side of the nest or box the same may be readily removed for cleaning or for other purposes.

The roosts or perches comprising the standards O and the pivoted braces D may be folded up against the frame A when not required for use or to make the device more compact for transporting or to economize space, as found desirable.

It is preferred that the pivoted doors F be constructed of slats, so that the hen when leaving her nest can extend her head through the opening and force the door open, and when the hen is on the nest her weight will keep the door closed and prevent any other hens from entering.

In further description I shall term the standards 0 and pivoted braces D a folding perch and platform-support and may be variously modified in construction or changed as circumstances require, as may also the nests or boxes.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A hens nest comprising a suitable frame, a folding perch connected thereto and provided with transverse supporting-cleats, a plurality of nests removably suspended within the frame, doors hinged to the frame at their i tion, substantially as and for the purpose set lower ends, convex bearings extending across forth.

the lower ends of the doors and flexible connections secured thereto and extending over 5 the convex face of the bearings and detachably connected to the nests, said bearings forming fulcruins and the convex surfaces preventing Wear upon the flexible connec l T0 In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of tWo Witnesses.

WALTER D. SURFACE.

' Witnesses: I

H. S. CARMIGHAEL, S, H. COLEMAN. 

